Glühwein (German Mulled Wine)

Glühwein (German Mulled Wine) is a staple at German Christmas markets and so easy to make at home! Red wine is heated up with spices and served hot.

Glühwein is the German version of mulled wine and just like the non-alcoholic Kinderpunsch is a staple in Germany during the holiday season. You can even get your mulled wine with a shot of rum which is known as “Glühwein mit Schuss“.

This hot drink is perfect for any red wine lover but can also be made with white wine and will warm you from the inside! It’s a cozy drink that’s perfect for cold winter days served together with German Christmas cookies.

Ingredient notes

Here is an overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom for quantities.

• Red wine – Use a medium dry wine for the best taste. I usually use a Merlot.
• Oranges – You need four oranges, two for slicing and two for juicing. Another option is to use 1/2 cup of orange juice, then you only need 2 oranges to cut into fine slices.
• Rum – Adding rum to your mulled wine is known as “Glühwein mit Schuss” in German. You can use whatever rum you have on hand.
• Sugar – Instead of brown sugar, you can also use cane sugar, white sugar, honey, or rock sugar. The amount of sugar can be adjusted!
• Spices – The spices used for mulled wine are usually cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and star anise. Cardamom and allspice berries can also be used.
• Vanilla bean – Using a vanilla bean is optional but it will give the mulled wine a lovely sweet vanilla note.

How to make this recipe 

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found at the bottom of the page on the printable recipe card.

1. Prep: Cut two oranges into thin slices and squeeze the juice out of the other two.
2. Combine: In a large pot over medium-low heat, combine red wine, orange slices, orange juice, spices, and vanilla bean. Heat until hot but don’t let it boil.
3. Finish: Add the sugar and rum and let it simmer for 5 more minutes.
4. Serve: Strain and ladle hot into a mug.

Expert tips for success

• Red wine: You can increase the amount of red wine to 1.5 liters without adjusting the other ingredients.
• Vanilla: Adding a vanilla bean is a great way to add some vanilla flavor. Just scrape out the seeds and add them to the pot with the empty pod.
• Sugar: Adjust the amount of sugar to your liking. Mulled wine shouldn’t be too sweet. You can even leave out the sugar if you prefer but I recommend adding some sweetness.
• Rum: The rum gives the mulled wine a stronger flavor, you can leave it out if you prefer. Instead of rum, you can also use Amaretto or Brandy.
• Spices: Use whole spices, not powdered spices. You can also put the spices into a teabag to make it easier to remove them. Feel free to add 4-6 cardamom pods or some allspice berries with the other spices if you have them on hand.
• Oranges: The oranges don’t need to be peeled before slicing them. The orange peel is very flavorful.
• Apples: Some Glühwein recipes also add apples to the mixture. I prefer to use only oranges.
• Alcohol content: The alcohol won’t evaporate, if you’re looking for a nonalcoholic version check out my Kinderpunsch recipe
• Slow cooker: You can also make this recipe in a slow cooker. Heat everything on LOW until hot, about 1 hour. Then switch to WARM and serve.

Recipe FAQs

Serve it with

German mulled wine is usually served in stoneware mugs but you can also use glass mugs. It goes perfectly with other comfort dishes like cheese spaetzle (Kaesespaetzle), German Stollen, or Lebkuchen (German Gingerbread).

And if you have any leftover mulled wine you can even use it to make my Chocolate Cranberry Cake or Dark Chocolate Red Wine Cake.

Make-ahead and storage

You can make mulled wine in advance, which makes it perfect for any party or winter adventure! Let it cool to room temperature, put it into a glass bottle, and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Reheat it in a saucepan or slow cooker before serving. You can also fill the mulled wine in a thermos and keep it warm for a few hours.

More German Christmas Recipes to Try

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